Global| Feb 01 2017U.S. Light Vehicle Sales Ease During January
by:Tom Moeller
|in:Economy in Brief
Summary
Total sales of light vehicles fell 4.4% (-1.6% y/y) to 17.61 million units (SAAR) during January from 18.43 million units sold in December, according to the Autodata Corporation. Leading the decline was a 9.3% drop (-11.8% y/y) in [...]
Total sales of light vehicles fell 4.4% (-1.6% y/y) to 17.61 million units (SAAR) during January from 18.43 million units sold in December, according to the Autodata Corporation.
Leading the decline was a 9.3% drop (-11.8% y/y) in passenger car sales to 6.58 million units. Domestically made passenger car sales were off a sharp 11.8% (-15.9% y/y) to 4.67 million units, the lowest level since December 2011. Sales of imported passenger cars fell 2.6% (+0.3% y/y) to 1.91 million units.
Light truck sales eased 1.3% (+5.7% y/y) to 11.03 million. Imported light truck sales declined 6.0% (+15.3% y/y) to 1.80 million units. Domestic light truck sales eased 0.3% (+4.0% y/y) to 9.22 million units. Trucks share of the U.S. vehicle market surged to another record of 62.6%, up from 58.3% twelve months earlier.
Imports share of the U.S. vehicle market held steady m/m at 21.1%. Imports share of the passenger car market rose to 29.0%, the highest level since May 2014. Imports share of the light truck market eased to 16.4%.
U.S. vehicle sales figures are published by the Autodata Corporation and can be found in Haver's USECON database.
| Light Weight Vehicle Sales (SAAR, Million Units) | Jan | Dec | Nov | Jan Y/Y % | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 17.61 | 18.43 | 17.87 | -1.6 | 17.55 | 17.42 | 16.52 |
| Autos | 6.58 | 7.26 | 7.16 | -11.8 | 7.11 | 7.72 | 7.92 |
| Domestic | 4.67 | 5.30 | 5.21 | -15.9 | 5.20 | 5.63 | 5.68 |
| Imported | 1.91 | 1.96 | 1.96 | 0.3 | 1.91 | 2.09 | 2.24 |
| Light Trucks | 11.03 | 11.17 | 10.71 | 5.7 | 10.44 | 9.70 | 8.60 |
| Domestic | 9.22 | 9.25 | 8.92 | 4.0 | 8.75 | 8.34 | 7.51 |
| Imported | 1.80 | 1.92 | 1.78 | 15.3 | 1.68 | 1.36 | 1.09 |
Tom Moeller
AuthorMore in Author Profile »Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio. Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984. He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C. In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists. Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.
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